I'm 21

me as Audrey again, just cos

Yesterday I officially became a twenty-something. An adult. A grown up. It's mostly a token milestone in Australia as you can already drink, drive and marry from eighteen onwards but it still feels pretty huge.

It's been a big year for me. I moved on from the safe job of my teens, have evolved in my ability as a nurse in training, celebrated a year living with my love and spent a month studying overseas. It's sounds so corny to lament how I've grown and matured, but it's 100% true.

Yesterday I was showered in presents, some belated Christmas, others birthday gifts. I laughed and ate and drank with my family. I saw Les Miserable (my all time favourite musical ever) in gold class and cried like a baby. It was an all around awesome day.

I had intended to ramble on about plans and hopes for my 21st year of life. But I don't think I have the energy. Rest assured it's going to be a big one. Watch out 22.

Alice xx

Hollywood

In just two days I'll be 21. Or one day, seeing as I'm writing this at 11pm. Shift work's swell, really. And seeing as it's so late, excuse this bit of word vomit. I have a case of nocturnal writers block. Nothing that spills from my fingertips at night ever makes much sense. 

Any hoot. Two weekends ago I celebrated the coming of my last youthful milestone (that sounds a bit mean, doesn't it?) with a Hollywood themed party. Can you take a guess at who I dressed as? We had an awesome photo booth at the venue, but here are a couple of snaps from before we left. Reece made an awesome Willy Wonka and my best friend Alix rocked Jessica Rabbit.

I couldn't be as exact as I liked but I was really happy with the over all result.

The party was awesome.

Alice xx

Early Presents

I think I've mentioned here before that my birthday falls on the 26th of December. This does often mean a few sneaky 'combintation' presents. But this year being my 21st birthday I've been lucky enough to already have received some very thoughtful and amazing birthday presents.

A few nights ago my sister and mum rushed over to my house to present me with the gifts they'd bought because they were to excited to wait.

My sister gave me the classic Chanel red lipstick. It's stunning, and pretty fun to click open and closed.

I spied the Miu Miu cameo collection on Tom and Lorenzo a few months ago and I've been hinting pretty heavily that it would make a great present. I hadn't really thought that my mum would actually buy it for me! It's sooooo pretty.

Safe to say, I'm a pretty lucky girl!

Alice xx

Effortless

I've been falling back on this outfit fairly often lately. It manages to make me feel instantly put together and chic. Did I just say chic?

top: op shopped, jeans: Levi's, shoes: payless, sunglasses: Bill Bass

My hair was fresh from a haircut in these photos. I've been toying with the idea of growing it out a bit longer, but I do find the long bob fun.

Alice xx

Hail December

Guys, it's December. Home of Christmas, the last month of the year and - most importantly - my birthday month. I choose not to add to the 'gift guide', 'recipe idea' and other such posts every blogger and their dog seem to churn out around this time of year. However I love reading and putting together snippets of what life is like this time of year.

Last year I bought a little baby tree for our lounge come study area which Reece and I decorated this morning. I'm looking to stock up on more Victorian-style decorations and find a wreath. It's a gradual accumulation of Christmas knick knacks.

Alice xx

Le Sigh

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

That was my sigh of relief. Exams are done and dusted and I'm officially on holidays. From uni that is. There is still work, though without the looming guilt whenever I do something that is not study. I may have done a little jump-ankle-click as I left the exam room.

I'm off to have a glass or three of wine and unwind. Here are some snaps from this week.

mini op shop haul

details of a new vintage dress from oh deer

my mind keeps roaming around the seven kingdoms

my 2013 diary is filling up quickly with some exciting things

getting my costume ready for my 21st party, thank you to my aunty for the pearls

Alice xx

Old Faithful

This dress was one of the first pieces I bought from a specialised vintage store, in this case Retrostar. Unfortunately It's starting to get a bit tattered an I'm not sure if my sewing skills are up to patching it up. But I still like to bring it out every now and again.

dress: retrostar, jacket: vintage armani jeans (Italy), flats: new look

I finally bought a new pair of flats. My trusty black Target pair have seen a lot and are starting to show it.

Alice xx

Maling Road

This past Saturday my sister and I took my Nanna out for lunch and a bit of window shopping in an outer-city suburb near her house. It was all kinds of quaint and awesome.

And let's pretend the photos are black and white purely because I'm artistic and not because my settings skills were non-existent that day.

Alice xx

Patch

I wore this during the week some time. The skirt is one I haven't pulled out in ages. Same goes for the cardigan, and I've worn it nearly every day since. It kind of makes me want to put elbow patches on everything I own and hang out at the library more.

skirt: op shop, top: silent theory, cardigan: living doll, shoes: target

I have weird ambitions, alright.

Alice xx

Maxi Comfort

I am currently hunched over a desk covered with ridiculously thick text books, lecture print outs and cups of tea. It is unlikely I will abandon my post - except to work - until Friday next week when I sit my final exam for the year. 

Just a little excited for uni holidays.

button up: vintage armani jeans (from Italy), maxi skirt: brandy & melville (from Italy), bustier: maxim via a local botique

I wore this for my exam yesterday morning. Super comfy.

Alice xx

Barleycorn Brewery

As part of his 21st birthday present, I gave Reece a voucher to brew his own beer at a brewery not far out of the city. On Friday we headed off to put it to use. I'm a pretty stellar gift buyer (if I don't say so myself), but this was one of the better presents I've bought.

Being a weekday we virtually had the place to ourselves. Reece chose a golden ale recipe. 

We had to gather the ingredients and add them at different intervals.

The brew is fermenting as we speak, waiting for us to go bottle it in a few weeks. Hopefully it tastes good!

Alice xx

Shabby

I've worn this jumper a disgraceful number of times since I bought it. In this case for a casual Saturday morning.

jumper: op shop, dress: asos, shoes: savers

Reece took these photos for me, he's good like that.

It's possible I'm erring a little too much on the shabby side of shabby chic, but I didn't quite care.

Alice xx

Snaps

Here are a few odds and ends from Ballarat. The competition went all day so there wasn't much time to explore. I'm hoping to go purely for pleasure in the not-too-distant future.

My sister took this, you get the idea though...

Alice xx